Autumn Reset
Ecstatic Dance & Restival Retreat 2026
Five days (or a weekend) of dance, rest and nervous-system reset in the Dorset countryside. A heart-opening gathering devoted to embodiment, sound, and down-to-earth spirituality.
November 18 @ 4:00pm – November 22 @ 5:00pm GMT · The Leela Centre, Gillingham, Dorset, UK
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The Invitation
Step into a journey of
dance, connection, rest and transformation.
Join us for our annual Autumn Reset retreat, a heart-opening gathering devoted to Ecstatic Dance, embodiment, nervous system reset & rest practices, and down-to-earth spirituality.
Make the most of the beautiful Autumn time of year and enjoy all that comes with it; the fresh, crispy Autumn air, colourful leaves, lovely atmosphere and a lot more that we’ve included in this transformational Autumn Reset retreat! Join us for the whole 5 days or weekend only.
We invite you to explore the tools & practices during this deep dive of 5 days and discover the positive benefits for yourself. Using music, movement, ritual, rest and connection to achieve a unified field of being. Attune to Nature and the living environment, release stress and come home to your Ecstatic-Self! Your body, mind and soul will thank you!
"Our retreats are about awakening the dancer within; reconnecting body, mind, and spirit through conscious dance and embodiment."
- Ecstatic Dance London
What's On?
Ecstatic Dance Sessions
Multiple Ecstatic Dance Sessions over the week
Trance Dance
Shamanic Trance Dance (limited spaces)
Daily Cacao Ceremonies
Lovingly made by Diana Upite
Daily Yoga Sessions
Start your day with yoga
Singing Workshops
Heart Opening Singing Sessions
Bioenergetics & Breathwork
Transformational Breath Workshops
Authentic Relating
Workshops to deepen connections
Movement Workshops
Deepen your practice with movement workshops
Sauna Sessions
Sauna & Cold Plunge sessions daily
Sound Journeys
Rest & Reset
Gong Baths
Gong Baths for Rest & integration
1:1 Bodywork sessions
Additional massages & bodyworkers
The Invitation
A deep dive into the tools
that bring your nervous system home.
Our Autumn Reset retreat will be more of a personal growth retreat than a festival. It is simply an invitation to bring more fun, joy, depth, expansion, rest and balance into our lives through a variety of transformational workshops.
Autumn Reset retreat weaves together ecstatic dance, embodiment practices, sound, breath and spacious integration time. Journey through a rich, diverse programme of embodiment, wellbeing and movement practices designed to support emotional release, nervous system regulation, deep connection and creative expression.
Explore the tools & practices during this deep dive retreat and discover the positive benefits for yourself.
- Grounding & fear-release exercises
- Trauma-aware embodiment practices
- Sound journeys & breathwork
- Sauna, cold plunge & rest rituals
A day at the retreat
Example Daily Schedule
Below is an example of how a typical day may flow. Timings and session details may shift slightly to allow flexibility and to respond to the atmosphere of the group. The full programme will be ready & published a month before the retreat.
- 7:00 – 8:10 AM | Active Meditation OR
- 7:30 – 8:15 AM | Yoga
- 8:00 – 9:30 AM | Yummy Breakfast
- 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Morning Gathering, Ecstatic Dance & Sharings, Workshop
- 1:00 – 1:30 PM | Magnificent Lunch
- 1:30 – 2:30 PM | *Dishes Help
- 2:30 – 3:10 PM | Yoga Nidra: Conscious Sleep Meditation
- 3:15 – 4:20 PM | Workshop or Free Time / Nature Walk / Massages
- 4:30 – 6:30 PM | Sauna | Cold Plunges (includes venik experience, body scrubs, herbal teas, fruit)
- 6:30 – 7:00 PM | Delicious Dinner
- 7:00 – 8:00 PM | *Dishes Help
- 8:00 – 10:00 PM | Evening Ecstatic Dance or Workshop
- 10:10 – 11:00 PM | Sound Journey | Restful Meditation | Campfire | Dance Party
*As part of a shared community experience at Leela, each participant is allocated to take one turn helping with washing up after one of the meals. A small act of care that keeps our space nourishing for everyone.
OUR AGREEMENTS
Important Notes
before booking
Please read these policies before booking.
Age Policy
This festival is open to adults aged 18+
Pets
The venue does not allow dogs or other pets (except guide dogs)
Alcohol & Drugs
Ecstatic Dance Festival UK is a zero-tolerance alcohol and drug-free space
Photography
Personal phones and cameras are not allowed in dance or workshop spaces. We may have professional photos taken during the retreat.
Join us for the whole 5 days,
or the weekend only.
However much time you can give yourself, this Autumn Reset is waiting for you at the Leela Centre.
Full retreat · Best value
5-Day Autumn Reset
18 – 22 November 2026
Early Bird Ticket
£420
The full deep dive: five days of dance, embodiment, sound, breath, sauna, cold plunge, and spacious integration time with all meals, hot drinks & workshops included at the Leela Center.
Weekend Only
Weekend Restival
20 – 22 November 2026
Weekend Ticket
£260
A shorter reset for those short on time. The same heart-opening dance, rest and connection, over a long weekend.
Testimonials
See What Our Past Participants Had to say
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It was quite possibly the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me.
I felt it was such a time of growth for me. I learned so much about connection with others and myself. Love and respect for all. I have returned home more patient, more accepting, less uptight. I have learned to breathe. I feel more powerful as a human.
Caroline
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Neil
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Something which felt so rapturous were the morning dances under the sun, before we met in our pod groups. I frequently went into states of bliss and awe at what felt like a profound honouring of the natural world. Even now as I write it feels difficult to express the feeling of the ‘ecstaticness’ that was experienced. So I am grateful for the timely sonic sounds that you played and the space to dance bare foot under the sun.
Georgie
Our retreat home
The Venue
The Leela Personal Development Centre
Our retreat takes place at The Leela Personal Development Centre in Gillingham, Dorset — a peaceful, heart-led community set among rolling fields and ancient trees.
The grounds offer:
- three indoor workshop spaces
- a marquee and opportunities for outdoor sessions
- beautiful nature, walking trails and open skies
- a wood-fired sauna (evenings + select daytime sessions)
- cosy communal areas, sofas & hangout spaces
- a vegetarian kitchen serving delicious meals
- showers, toilets & power sockets throughout
- an onsite coffee & cake shop run by the Leela community
Camping is included, with upgraded accommodation available.
The venue is just a 10-minute drive from Gillingham station, an easy 2-hour direct train from London. Free car parking is available, and we provide a WhatsApp lift-share group for attendees.
Autumn Reset 2026
Practical Information
Location & Travel
The Leela Centre, Thorngrove House
Common Mead Lane, Gillingham, Dorset SP8 4RE
(10 minutes by car from Gillingham station)
It’s an easy journey from London — roughly 2 hours direct by train, then a short taxi ride (typically under £10 one way). We’ll share local taxi details closer to the time.
Parking is free on site. We strongly encourage lift shares to reduce cars and make the arrival gentler on the land.
A WhatsApp group for travel coordination (car shares / taxis / train arrivals) will be shared a few weeks before the festival.
What Your Ticket Includes
- All workshops, ecstatic dance sessions and cacao ceremonies
- A camping spot for the brave! It is recommended to have upgraded accommodation at this retreat.
- Car parking space
- All meals (3 per day: 12 meals full festival / 6 meals weekend)
- Unlimited teas and coffee available in the main house
- Filtered drinking water refill access
What's Not Included
To help you plan with ease, there are a few things that aren’t included in your festival ticket. Travel to and from the site isn’t covered, and any bodywork or massage sessions are booked and paid directly with the practitioners during the festival. You’ll also find a lovely on-site café offering extra treats — think good coffee, cake, and other tasty creations — along with personal snacks you may wish to bring for in-between moments. Everything essential is taken care of; these are simply optional extras to enjoy if and when you feel called.
Upgraded accommodation is booked through the booking link.
Sauna sessions can be bought as a pass through the booking link.
Food & Nourishment
3 Meals a day included in your ticket. Meals are vegetarian/vegan, clearly labelled, and the kitchen can usually support common requirements such as gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan. The venue may not be able to cater for more specialised diets — please share dietary needs when booking.
There’s also a café/healthy bar open at certain times for extras like coffee and sweet treats.
We’d advise you to bring some snacks in case you get peckish between meals.
Accommodation & Upgrades
Options include:
- Campervan space (from £10/night + power if needed)
- Shared dorms / deluxe dorms
- Bell tents (standard or deluxe)
- Private rooms and private pods
Please note: Weekend accommodation may be limited to dorms, as priority is given to retreat attendees.
Example Daily Rhythm
To help you picture the flow, here’s a sample day:
- Morning: gentle active meditation or yoga
- Breakfast
- Late morning: gathering, ecstatic dance, sharings, workshops
- Lunch + dishes help
- Afternoon: sauna / bodywork / workshops / rest time
- Dinner + dishes help
- Evening: ecstatic dance or workshops
- Late: campfire / sauna / music / quiet hangout
The exact schedule will vary — we keep some flexibility so the festival can breathe.
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Autumn Reset
Ecstatic Dance & Restival Retreat 2026
Five days (or a weekend) of dance, rest and nervous-system reset in the Dorset countryside. A heart-opening gathering devoted to embodiment, sound, and down-to-earth spirituality.
November 18 @ 4:00pm – November 22 @ 5:00pm GMT · The Leela Centre, Gillingham, Dorset, UK
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Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re new to the Ecstatic Dance Festival UK, it’s completely natural to have a few questions. This space is intentionally gentle, welcoming, and open to all bodies and levels of experience. If you’re still unsure or simply want to connect, you’re always welcome to reach out. We’re a friendly bunch, and we’re happy to support you.
The Ecstatic Dance Festival UK 2026 is a multi-day sober movement gathering held in Dorset, bringing together DJs, live musicians, facilitators, bodyworkers and conscious community members. The festival focuses on ecstatic dance, embodiment practices, wellbeing workshops and nature connection within a consent-based, alcohol-free environment.
The Ecstatic Dance Festival UK takes place in Dorset, in the South West of England at the Leela Personal Development Centre. The venue is set in countryside surroundings approximately two hours from London, offering indoor workshop spaces, outdoor areas and on-site accommodation including camping and rooms.
Yes, the Ecstatic Dance Festival UK is a fully sober and drug-free event. Alcohol and recreational substances are not permitted. The festival culture prioritises presence, nervous system safety and conscious connection without external stimulants.
An ecstatic dance festival typically includes multiple dance journeys led by DJs and musicians, embodiment workshops, yoga, breathwork, sound healing sessions and facilitated group experiences. The Ecstatic Dance Festival UK also includes community rituals, integration spaces and opportunities for rest.
No prior experience is required to attend the Ecstatic Dance Festival UK. Both beginners and experienced dancers are welcome. Clear guidelines are shared at the start of each dance to help everyone understand the non-verbal, consent-based format.
Ecstatic dance events usually follow three core guidelines: no talking on the dance floor, no shoes, and no alcohol or drugs. The Ecstatic Dance Festival UK also emphasises consent, respectful boundaries and shared responsibility for community wellbeing.
Ecstatic dance can feel spiritual for some participants, but it is not affiliated with any religion. The Ecstatic Dance Festival UK creates space for personal reflection and expression, while remaining inclusive of people from all belief systems or none.
Comfortable, breathable clothing suitable for movement is recommended. Most people dance barefoot or in socks. Layers are useful for outdoor areas or evening temperature changes. There is no dress code beyond comfort and respect.
Camping is included in standard festival tickets, while dorms, private rooms and alternative accommodation options are available at additional cost. Availability varies and is reflected on the ticketing page for the 2026 festival.
Yes, many people attend alone. The Ecstatic Dance Festival UK encourages an inclusive community atmosphere, and structured workshops and dance spaces naturally support connection without pressure.
Most ecstatic dance festivals are adult-focused environments. The suitability for families depends on the specific 2026 event structure and safeguarding guidelines. The Ecstatic Dance Festival UK 2026 is 18+
Yes, the Ecstatic Dance Festival UK includes workshops alongside dance journeys. These may include yoga, embodiment practices, sound sessions, nervous system education and facilitated group experiences designed to complement the dance floor.
The Ecstatic Dance Festival UK is distinct in its sober culture, consent-based container and focus on movement as ritual rather than performance. It prioritises embodied practice, ethical facilitation and conscious community over entertainment-driven programming.
Preparation can include resting beforehand, staying hydrated and arriving with openness to movement and community. There is no choreography to learn. The emphasis is on listening to your body and respecting others’ boundaries throughout the festival.